Starts at 7,750 with a highest pt. of 9,700. Total climbing is 2,00 ft.

Another great trail I found in the Falcon Guide "Mt. biking Colorado" which I highly recommend!

Starts as a gentle climb as your parallel the highway before it turns away and steepens, ranging from intermediate to advanced. It's a sitback climb though, not too technical and the road is wide. After about 3 miles, fork right onto FS 748 riding through a shady tree area. The trail levels out just enough to catch your breath before steepening. Soon enough, as you keep heading South, you reach a little Forest Service cabin which is a perfect place to take a break and enjoy the scenery as it is the high point and it's all down from there.. From the cabin, the singletrack descent heads west from the North side of the cabin (if you are standing outiside of the cabin and looking at the front door, you go right) and passes a pond. Very shortly, look for a wooden fenceline, You want to go right and go downhill, NOT straight on the more traveled trail. This is the FUN part!. Moderate to steep singletrack through the forests. Curvy and way fun, you can get some speed here, just moderately technical in parts. After a few miles, pass through a wire fence and resume on a 4wd road and shortly branch left onto more singletrack for your last steep stretch before coming upon the Battle Mt. High School where you head west on frontage road a short distance, then turn back east following US6 and US24. Be attentive of this! I missed the school/frontage road once and ended up on I-70 for a mile or two of white knuckle, rubber legging to the highway 24 exit!

From West Vail, travel 2 miles on I-70 to exit 171 (Minturn). Drive nearly a mile SE on US 24 to the Meadow Mountain Parking area on the right side of the road marked by a Forest Service station..it's a large parking area, you can't miss it. The trail begins at the green gate behind the houses.

Summary:This is a great trail, but be ready to climb and climb. Climbing is generally non-technical but steep. This is a rocking trail once at the top. One thing to be aware of is that the Trail down the back side is closed in the spring until July 1st (learned the hard way).

Recommended Route:As Described

Other recommended trails in the same area:Lost Lake (the big loop from Safeway), Son of the Middle, Bowman's Shortcut to Two Elk

Would you like to Comment?Join MTBR for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Summary:Wanted to add some notes. I rode this trail mid July this year and I still have mostly the same impression. The trail is in great shape and with all the moisture this year the trail brush/flowers are above the handle bars on the singletrack descent. You know the type, the growth is high enough to make the trail invisible. The trail can be a little sketchy if the singletrack is wet for the descent, reason being: wet roots and plenty of them. The descent is long and a blast, a little of everything, fast meadows, trees that seems to be ski gates.

This trail is literally what i call an up and over...you climb and climb to the top and then nothing but descend, not my preferred trail type, but this one is an exception.

If you decide to take a breat at the cabin make sure you have bug spray, the fly and squitos are extremely hungry!

My ratings listed are based on my recent ride.

Recommended Route:nothing to add.

Would you like to Comment?Join MTBR for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Summary:The previous reviewer hit the nail on the head. The trail is a grinder climb up and up and up. Once up top, the trail becomes progressively better. The scenery is nice and the wild flowers are a nice touch.

On the descent, the grass and flowers had grown so much that it was nearly impossible to see the single track...and yes it was fast.

Recommended Route:Same as everyone else counter-clockwise.

Would you like to Comment?Join MTBR for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Review DateJuly 14, 2003

Overall Rating 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review5.00 of 5,
1.00 votes

Rate this review?

Reviewed by: p2moguls
,
Cross Country Rider
, from Littleton Co

Summary:Rode this trail for the first time 7/12/03. Previous reviewer, Beef,must have been one of only 3 other riders we saw that entire day. The climb was mostly double track and old 4wd road. Along the way, you pass old ranching ruins, sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and lots of purple, yellow and white wildflowers. Rode it mid day, and being mid July, the climb was a little on the hot side. Mostly exposed with little shade. At least there was some breeze and a few shady spots to take a break in if you need to. It's a haul uphill, but not technical in the least bit. Just sit back and grind until you reach the cabin.
We checked out the cabin while we had lunch and enjoyed the views. Then we started down to the right of the cabin past the pond just downhill. The trail just got better and better as we descended. It's primo Colorado single track, snaking through shoulder high wildflowers, and shady aspen groves. Even though it's not that technical, you need to be alert at all times. The trail is narrow and due to the height of the flowers and grass along the trail, it twists out of sight often. Roots,rocks and even a little bridge over a creek spring up and could vault you over the handlebars if you're not careful.
The hardest part for us was keeping our eyes on the trail with all the beautiful wildflowers and views along the descent. Wildlife too can be an obstacle, as I found out when I rousted a family of grouse from their hideout as I ripped through one of the meadows nearing the bottom..shocked the sh*t out of me when it nearly fluttered directly into my face.
All in all, one of the prettiest rides I've done, and a lot of fun.
We will be doing it again in the fall. With all the aspens, it will be suh-weet.

Highly recommended for good riders. As I said, not all that technically difficult, but aerobically challenging. Including the road at the end, its about 12 miles round trip.
As previously mentioned, keep an eye open as you near the bottom. There is a right turn to take you back towards the tunnel to Hwy 24, to avoid the a lengthy road ride back to the parking lot.

Recommended Route:From Highway 24 Ranger station, climb the double track to the cabin (4.4 miles). Then right at the cabin, and hang on..kick ass downhill all the way home. Tight single track through wildflowers, meadows and cool, shady forest, back to Hwy 24.

Other recommended trails in the same area:Camp Hale to the Colorado Trail, up to Kokomo Pass...also very beautiful, but a relentless and sometimes steep climb. The downhill was a blast though.

Would you like to Comment?Join MTBR for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Review DateJuly 14, 2003

Overall Rating 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:Once a month

Rate this review?

Reviewed by: Beef from Avon
,
Cross Country Rider

Summary:Rode this trail on 7/12/03. It took me about an hour to climb all the way to the top from the bottom. Views from the top of the mountain are amazing. You can see the runs on Vail and Beaver Creek. Cabin is neat also. The other reviewers weren't lying about the downhill being tight singletrack. This trail is definitely the tightest singletrack I have ever ridden. The trail goes right throught a dense forest.

Recommended Route:Ride or park the car at the Ranger Station and start to climb. Continue going straight on the main trail. You know you've reached the top when you see the cabin at the top of the mtn. Downhill starts on right hand side of the cabin. Other reviewers are correct in that trail forks left and right about 3/4s of the way down and if you want to get back to the ranger station take left work. This will end up at the tunnder under Highway 6 by Kayak Crossing.
WOULD NOT RECOMMEND this trail for a beginner because the downhill is very tight.

Other recommended trails in the same area:Grand Traverse on Vail mtn, Son of Middle Creek,

Would you like to Comment?Join MTBR for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.